Elia Saikaly is an award-winning adventure filmmaker, mountaineer, speaker, and coach who has spent over 20 years exploring the limits of human endurance. His journey began as a rebellious teenager who channeled his energy into extraordinary athletic feats, including breaking a deadlift world record in his age and weight class. This drive for pushing boundaries led him to participate in over 25 world-class expeditions, including ten journeys to Mt. Everest, where he became the only Canadian to summit the mountain five times.
Elia has endured avalanches, investigated deaths on the world’s tallest peaks, and documented the 2014, 2015, and 2019 Everest disasters. His stunning imagery has been licensed by major networks such as National Geographic, Discovery, ESPN, and Netflix, showcasing his ability to weave adventure and storytelling into unforgettable narratives. His work as a director of photography has also earned him critical acclaim, including a Canadian Screen Award and a CINE Golden Eagle Award.
Elia is also a certified Mind-Body Practitioner, High-Performance Coach, and Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator who integrates Gestalt and Jungian psychology into his practice. He guides others toward excellence by helping them confront their shadows, break through limitations, and unlock their full potential.
Beyond the mountains, Elia has inspired thousands through his FindingLife educational program, which has connected students to real-time learning adventures and supported global causes like building classrooms in Kenya. Whether climbing the world’s tallest peaks or helping others navigate their personal mountains, Elia’s mission is to inspire transformation, resilience, and purpose.
Adventure filmmaker Elia Saikaly shares his incredible journey of 20 years on Everest, delving into the mindset of those drawn to dangerous pursuits and the immense mental fortitude required to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Elia has survived two avalanches on Mt. Everest, broken his back paragliding, investigated deaths on the world’s tallest peaks, and assisted in recovering bodies from altitudes above 8000m, including K2 — all while capturing these experiences through the lens and leading his own transformative initiatives. Through these extreme adventures, Elia discovered that they serve as mirrors to the true mountains we climb within ourselves.
As a storyteller and mountaineer, Elia documented the 2014, 2015, and 2019 disasters on Everest, and his imagery has been licensed by major networks including National Geographic, Discovery, ESPN, Netflix, and BBC. In 2016, he co-starred in Discovery Channel’s Unclimbed – Reaching the Summit alongside Pasang Kaji Sherpa.
Drawing on footage and firsthand accounts from the front lines, Elia will reveal how his work with schoolchildren and virtual learning expeditions evolved into investigative storytelling as he bore witness to tragedy after tragedy on the mountain. He explores how the industry has transformed over two decades, the critical moment it faces today, the stakes at risk, and how these experiences have profoundly reshaped his life.
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